Three Simple Words

This time of the year brings out the love. Not the love that is commercialized by sexy, smoky scenes of lovers exchanging gifts, although that is seen everywhere; I'm not talking about that kind of love.

I'm talking about the true love that Christ brings into our lives. You see love is an integral theme to Christmas. God sent his son to earth to live and dwell among us to show us how we should live in this world so that we could gain eternal life. God sent his son into this world in a way that would be questioned, ridiculed and mocked until the day he died. Let's examine some things. Put yourself in his shoes and see how they would fit if this were to be you today.

Jesus' mother, Mary, was pregnant and not married. Jesus was born in the lowliest of places amongst animals. Jesus was a very controversial figure stirring up the traditions of men and challenging the beliefs and standards of the day. He plucked corn and ate it on the Sabbath. He sat with publicans and sinners. He consorted with the lowly and despised tax collectors. He healed on the Sabbath day. He talked to Samaritan women and prostitutes. He was very angry and acted out and chased merchants out of the temple. The spiritual leaders of the day sought to kill him and turned others against him.

Jesus also turned the water into wine at a wedding so that the host would not be embarrassed by running out. Jesus had compassion on the blind, the deaf and the lame and healed them. Jesus gave water to a thirsty woman and gave her an everlasting hope. Jesus rebuked those who would have turned children away from him. Jesus provided food for hungry travelers and opened the spiritual eyes of those around him to see and believe the miraculous!

The Bible talks about it this way in I Corinthians 14: 4 - 8. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

I know, you usually hear this at weddings and anniversary celebrations and it certainly applies. But it's not written in that context. This chapter of the Bible, known as the love chapter, is sandwiched between two chapters teaching on spiritual gifts. Boy that gets me to thinking. Why are we told about the importance of love while teaching on spiritual gifts? Because true spiritual gifts can only prosper and minister when love is the motivation.

This love is not easy to possess. This type of love only comes through self-sacrifice. Jesus' example of love and restoration was the core mission of his ministry. Jesus could have and probably should have in many of our minds, demonstrated his Godliness by exposing their thoughts and motives to their peers. But, that is not the way to do things. Jesus demonstrated love to all humanity. You see, Christ's life was not easy by no means. Can you imagine knowing what people were saying about you, not to mention knowing the thoughts they have and are not saying, and then not exposing that? If you're anything like me, I THINK I know what you are thinking and therefore I respond to that. And I can't really read your thoughts. Jesus could read their unspoken words and they were as human as you and I are so I know that they were not charitable, loving thoughts all the time. Yet, he let them be and he taught them the right way to act and respond. Now that took true love. If someone thought of me as less than acceptable and I could read their thoughts, believe me I would be setting them straighter than an arrow so fast their head would swim.

The religious leaders of that day were jealous of Jesus. They could not compete with what Jesus was doing for and through the people and they were losing their foothold and income. They were not happy with the way things were challenged and traditions were exposed as needless. Their tyranny and power was exercised through the rituals and traditions of men. Maybe some would even brand this as charismatic in his day. People loved him and flocked to hear him preach and minister.

What challenges you today? Better yet, who are you envious of? Who are you holding a grudge against because they think they are better than you? Who are you no longer friends with because you feel intimidated by their talent or their ability to minister in a certain gift? Who have you talked about in such a way as to have made them look less than perfect to others so that, hopefully, you will still look good? Or, who has wronged you and you have not extended forgiveness to them because they are the ones that should be asking you to forgive them, not the other way around?

The beauty of this kind of love is that it is possible for you and I to live like this. Really! Jesus Christ in us brings about such a change that this type of unselfish love is no longer impossible but possible through Christ's forgiveness. Because he forgives us all things, we can extend that grace and forgiveness to others.

It takes three simple words. I forgive you. WOW! Why are those three simple words so hard to say? Why would you want to hold on to grudges and perceived wrongs and even real injustices when you can have a true heart of love through three simple words? It's hard. I've been there. I've had to forgive so many times when I've not truly been at fault. BUT I did it. Why? Because I'd rather extend forgiveness and move on with a friend instead of holding those grudges and wrongs inside and becoming contaminated by greed, hate, bitterness, evil, envy and pride. Those things will eat away at you until you are destroyed and have no hope or joy to sustain you in this life.

So, in the true spirit of Christmas, I am asking you to say these three simple words to those who need to hear them. "I forgive you." It will cost you something. It will cost you your hate, bitterness, envy and pride. It will cost you your need to seek retribution. But the reward of saying those three simple words are a love and joy that is boundless! Lose yourself in forgiveness so that you can find yourself in love!!

The Faithless Wife vs. The Harlot

I love to read the Bible and learn the principles that create a great foundation for a successful life. My husband taught me a long time ago the value of reading Proverbs every day. I love it. What I find difficult, however, is the prophets in the Old Testament. All the types and shadows, allegory's and prophesy challenge me so much that I honestly lose interest. BUT......

I decided to try once more to read one of them. Actually, a message I heard recently tweaked my interest and I thought I'd try to read Ezekiel. I mean, really, if these books were not important in some way, then God would never have moved upon folks to write them. Right?

Right! Man did the Word of God speak to my heart today. You see I'm in chapter 16 of Ezekiel. God is talking to him about Judah, and how she played the harlot. God took Judah and created something wonderful out of nothing. He gave them embroidered clothing, jewels fit for a king, fed them with the tastiest of pastries and sweets and gave them beauty as well. Judah was the envy of all the people around them. She had everything!

Then it all fell apart. Judah played the role of a harlot. She began taking the things she was given and created images and began worshiping idols instead of the God who created her beauty and provided for her. She began trusting in herself instead of the God who provided all things. Judah began to praise and promote herself. But it didn't stop there, Judah also taught the next generation to do the same.

What really grabbed my attention, however, is the fact that God changes His characterization of Judah in this chapter. Instead of being a harlot, he says, you are a faithless wife. You are giving it away free. You are not even charging for your harlotry. So you've taken your wickedness to a more depraved state. You're a wife who should be committed to your relationship, but you are throwing it all away for nothing!

Then I stop to think about this. What role am I playing today? Am I the real deal? Am I living like royalty and appreciating the blessings and beauty that God has created in my life? Am I appreciating His provisions in my life and walking in the way I know I should? Am I trusting God to provide my needs? Am I promoting myself instead of letting God promote me? Am I teaching my children to live for God in a way that brings glory to Him and appreciates the life He has blessed us with?

Or am I the faithless wife or harlot? Have I lost sight of the value of God's blessings and provisions and become just like Judah? Am I acting like a faithless wife? Worse than a harlot? I made my life's commitment to walk with God, love Him and serve Him. So He forgave me of my sins and washed me with His blood and gave me salvation. Am I faithful? Is my relationship with God a priority? Do I talk to Him every day? Do I seek His favor in all I do and say? Do I take my daily needs to the Lord and trust Him to take care of them? You know, leave it there?

The NEB version of the Bible puts it this way. "We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to devote ourselves to the good deeds for which God has designed us". (Eph. 2:10) I need to remember that I am significant and unique, not because of what I do, but because of whose I am.

Are you a fool?

I read a joke my sister sent me the other day about there being a holiday for everyone...even fools. The scripture reference in that joke was this Psalm 14:1 "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." ....."

As I laughed at the joke, I also wondered if there are times that I am the fool saying there is no God? Ok, I've not said it out loud, but have my actions said that. When I was growing up, my parents would quote that little phrase "actions speak louder than words". They would warn us that who we were with and what we did in times of stress or play actually said more about us than our actual words.

There's a new phrase I've been hearing more frequently. Living out loud. So I wonder what God hears in my actions.

When I participate in gossip, am I really saying that I don't believe God hates gossipers?

When I omit some important fact in a conversation that would otherwise, if shared, place the responsibility or blame on me, do I really think God doesn't know I am lying through my front teeth? Do I really think that God excludes me from His wrath for lying?

When I am unkind and have no compassion for those people I come into contact with everyday, including the people I live with, am I thumbing my nose at God and ignoring His commandments?

I have to wonder about this. Because if you look at the entire verse of that scripture it says, "Psalm 14:1 "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good."

So I take a little closer look at two words; corrupt and vile. Corrupt means "guilty of dishonest practices, as bribery; lacking integrity; crooked" Vile means "wretchedly bad or highly offensive, unpleasant, or objectionable."

So, I conclude that my actions are saying "There is no God". Because I have not always refrained from gossip. I have not always told the truth all the time. I have not always chosen to take the higher standard and walk away when others are engaged in questionable conversations. By association, by staying around, I am guilty by association. Verdict: I am a fool.

But there is hope!! God loves us! He will and does forgive us the moment we repent and ask Him. God is hearing my actions BUT He's also right there when we need to ask for forgiveness. One of the greatest scriptures of all times says it all. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

Put another way by the Message version of the Bible "If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God. ".

The question is "Are you a fool?" I am. I am a repented fool. I am thankful that God is there waiting to hear my confession and extend grace and mercy when I repent.

What are you waiting for?

Riding the train to and from work has its curses and blessings. The curse is its noisy and prolongs my commute time. I'm tired and people annoy me. The blessings are that there's less wear and tear on my car, the commute is cheaper and I don't have to fight the traffic. I also have about an hour just to "zone" if I want.

Another blessing is the people. Ok, I know I said that I'm tired and the people annoy me, but sometimes it is rather entertaining. Last night I was trying to get in the "zone" and that's when I begin to hear the people. See when I zone, I hear everything until my mind finally cops out and I "zone". So in that time of hearing everyone I must of heard 2 to 3 people talk about what they are waiting on. One was waiting on her daughter, one was waiting on the boss, you get the picture.

For some reason, my mind jumped to a lady I talked to in church recently. I asked how she was doing and she told me she was waiting on a specific minister to come back to our church to pray for her. Then she knew she'd get what she was waiting for. Huh? I was stunned.

I remembered a time in the Bible when Jesus healed a man that was waiting. He was waiting for several years for the water in the pool of Bethesda to move all by itself. If memory serves me correctly, it moved only about once a year. Why had he been waiting for so long? He needed someone to help him into the water. Because only the first person in the water at the time it moved on its own was healed. Because he was dependent on others to help him, he never made it in time. So he was still waiting. But now that Jesus was on the scene, as we know, he healed the man there and then and he left completely made whole. A completely changed man.

So, what bothers me is this, why is that lady at church waiting? She's waiting on some one to be here before God can heal her. Why? If Jesus is "in the house" or in our midst all the time, then I'm confused. Why is she waiting? We know that healing comes from God. We know that all we need is found in God. Don't we?

Now I have to ask myself, is there something that I'm waiting for before I __________? Are you waiting for _________ before God can move? before God can provide? before God can....................you fill in the blank. Now my criticism for the lady in my church turns inward. Why am I waiting? Waiting for what? Waiting for who? Is my inability to be completely changed and made whole because I'm waiting when there is really no need to? What am I waiting for?

A Time for Change vs. an Unchangeable God

I've read many things lately about the need for change in our world. Let's face it, the message our president won his election on was the need for change and his perceived ability to make that happen. The Sotomayor hearings are filled with questions that are trying to filter through all the "things we think we know about her" and her answers to the questions the committee asks her over a fews days time. From what I can tell, it seems they are all trying to determine how much her addition to the Supreme Court may actually change the rulings handed down by the court.

No matter what your political leanings are in these matters, the truth is we are in a culture that is seeking change. I would even agree that we need change in our world. I don't like many of our tax and spend policies. I don't like some of the decisions made by our highest court. I do not subscribe to the philosphy that there are no absolutes. In these things we certainly need change and I embrace those that are trying to make a difference in these areas.

The thought of change is a challenging one. How far will "change" go in our world? Our president has taken liberties of power that the office was never designed to have, but he, without any real resistance, has done things that has set the United States in a tailspin. Where it will end it not determined. What will the final outcomes be of this quick decisions and unprecedented use of his power will be are not clear. What we do know is that we are getting the change that the majority of the voters asked for.

With that being said, I do know that there are some things that should not be changed. Matter of fact, they are 100% unchangeable. Those things are the laws of God. They will never change. I'm not sure how you feel about that fact, however, it gives me great hope and security. Our God is unchangeable! He is the Creator of all mankind and the Author of the laws of reciprocity. Therefore, there are consequences of all decisions that bring about change. That's why the Bible is accurate when it states that God is in control. No matter who is in power or what occurs, God will have the last word. For this I am grateful.

So to encourage and increase my faith and yours, I give you some thoughts about our unchangeable God.

God does not change. Malachi 3:6 states "I am the Lord, I do not change;...."

God is always the same. Hebrews 13:8 states "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Sin brings death & the gift of God is eternal life. In Romans 6:23 it states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I quote all these scriptures to make this point, some things will and should never change. God's word, His promises, His power, His redeeming blood, His judgements, His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, His provisions, and His blessings will never change. I know that I can depend on, trust in and hope in God.

The changes our president or local governments make that affect our taxes, pay, health insurance or individual "rights" will never limit my needs being supplied. God supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory.

The laws of reciprocity that govern the outcomes of sin will not change. Sin brings death. It's really that simple. Those that engage in sinful practices are only enjoying them "for a season". The outcome is death. Never forget that.

The laws of reciprocity that govern the outcomes of living for God will not change. It's really that simple. Live by the principles of the Word of God and you will have good success. You will receive eternal life. Never, ever forget that.

Are there prices to pay for these two opposing life-styles? YES! That is an absolute. NEVER forget that. You are what you read, eat, think and do. Your choices today determines your tomorrow. Change your choices today and you change your tomorrows.

In summary, it is time for change. We need to change who we are looking to for answers. We need to remember that this world is not our home; we are just passing through. Our choices should be thoughfully considered and with the clear understanding that the laws of reciprocity will always be applied. AND most of all, that our God is unchangeable. We need to change to be more like Him!! We need to believe His word and develop a relationship with Him so we can hear His voice and know with clarity and assurance what changes we need to make in order to find fulfillment and the promise of eternal life.

No Password Necessary!

I had to change my password today. Every 30 days this event occurs. There are rules that you have to follow for changing your password. It has to be a certain length. It has to have at least 7 characters. It cannot be all letters. It must contain 1 number. It cannot be similar in any way to a prior password, etc. Oh, and by the way, don't write it down anywhere!

When you question this practice, it's all about being secure. Security provides safety or a freedom from risk. It lessens the danger of someone being able to break through the walls of your defense. Basically, it is there for your protection. My corporation requires a password in order to protect me and them from tampering by another co-worker or an outside entity. A lot of corporate resources are assigned, both financial and physical, to ensuring that I and the company are safe from intruders and risk.

The password is such an important element in providing technical security that you only get a certain number of chances to remember it and enter it correctly. After your chances expire, you are totally locked out of the system and you must call to have it "reset" so you can once again have access to the system.

AND as it that's not enough, there are certain applications in our system that require a different password to gain access. Even some levels of operation that limit you by your user ID. So just because you get through the first set of "security measures" doesn't mean you have access to everything that's available.

These thoughts caused me to ponder just a moment. No password is necessary in God's kingdom. God never locks us out. He does not have a limit on the number of times you try to gain access to Him. What an awesome thought!

God's kingdom and access into His realm is totally secure. There is no risk of intruders sabatoging His "system". When you're in His "system" you have the freedom to go anywhere and access any level of operation you desire. God's Kingdom is secure! He paid the price one time for all of us forever!!

God will never lock us out no matter how many times we forget some of the steps or measures. God will never prevent us from going to the next level. God is totally transparent and provides all things for all people who seek him and desire more. His Kingdom is limitless and you can reach for the stars and attain the greatest heights. It's all up to you!

I have full access to everything in God's Kingdom 24.7.365!!